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- Purging is not just about throwing up after meals. It encompasses a range of behaviors aimed at eliminating calories or compensating for perceived overeating. These can include self-induced vomiting, misuse of laxatives or diuretics, excessive exercise, and periods of fasting or extreme food restriction.
neurolaunch.com/purging-behavior/Purging Behavior: Causes, Consequences, and Treatment Options
People also ask
What causes a person to develop purging disorder?
What does purging mean?
What is purging & why is it a problem?
Can eating disorders cause purging?
What are the symptoms of purging disorder?
Is purging disorder a mental illness?
Jun 21, 2024 · Some things that might increase a person’s risk of developing purging disorder include a history of dieting, body dissatisfaction, gastrointestinal distress after eating, family history of an eating disorder, trauma, and co-occurring conditions like depression or anxiety.
Sep 22, 2024 · Explore the types, causes, and health impacts of purging behavior. Learn about diagnosis, treatment options, and the path to recovery from eating disorders.
- Overview
- Purging disorder vs. bulimia
- Symptoms
- Who does it affect?
- Treatments
- Side effects
- How to find help
- Recovery
- The bottom line
Purging disorder is an eating disorder that involves “purging” behavior to induce weight loss or manipulate body shape. Purging can mean a number of things, including:
•self-induced vomiting
•misuse of laxatives or medications
•excessive exercise
•fasting
While it’s not as well-known as other eating disorders, purging disorder is a recognized eating disorder. It’s categorized as an “Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder.”
Bulimia is a serious eating disorder that often occurs in a cycle of binge-eating behavior followed by a period of purging.
While bulimia and purging disorder can both share purging behaviors, the main difference between the two is that there’s a compulsion to binge eat with bulimia.
As a recognized eating disorder, purging disorder can be identified by many of the same symptoms as other eating disorders. Symptoms might include:
•recurring episodes of purging behaviors to lose weight, including:
•self-induced vomiting
•laxative or diuretic misuse
•misuse of enemas
•fasting
What the research says
There are certain factors that might contribute to higher rates of eating disorders among certain people. Sexual and physical abuse, or participating in appearance or weight-focused sports, are potential risk factors. While studies suggest that eating disorders are more common during late childhood and adolescence, it’s possible for eating disorders to occur at any time in life. Men are also at risk for eating disorders. A recent review concluded that at least 25 percent of people with eating disorders are male. Plus, eating disorders like purging disorder are actually increasing at a faster rate among males than females. People who have an eating disorder are also more likely to have another mood disorder at the same time. One study concluded that as many as 89 percent of individuals with eating disorders often have concurrent mood disorders, such as: •anxiety •depression •impulse control issues •substance use Eating disorders are a serious mental health condition, not a choice. There’s no shame in getting help.
Treatment for purging disorder can vary based on each person. Some people may benefit from more intensive inpatient treatment and recovery programs, while others might prefer outpatient therapy options.
Inpatient treatment is more common in cases that require medical monitoring or daily assessments. Outpatient treatment might include psychotherapy and nutrition counseling.
Purging disorder can cause many serious side effects to your health, including:
•feeling faint
•tooth decay
•throat swelling
•facial swelling
•mood swings
If you or someone you know has purging disorder, you can:
•Call the National Eating Disorders Association helpline for resources, treatment options, and support.
•Get free or low-cost support options for anyone who may not have access to inpatient treatment or therapy.
Remember that eating disorders are serious mental health conditions, not a question of willpower. Don’t feel ashamed to seek treatment or additional help, and know that you’re not alone.
Recovering from an eating disorder is possible, but it takes time. Be patient with yourself over the course of your recovery. Everyone is different, and healing is an ongoing process.
Consider continuing therapy, journaling, or joining a support group to help as you recover. Relapses might happen, but you’re not a failure if they do. Help is always there to get you back on track.
Purging disorder is a serious mental health condition caused by repeated cycles of purging in order to manipulate weight or body shape. Purging can take many different forms, which can cause serious nutritional and metabolic imbalances and lead to lasting damage to your health.
It’s important to seek professional treatment for purging disorder as soon as possible, whether that’s joining a support group or seeking more intensive therapy.
May 13, 2024 · Purging behavior includes vomiting, excessive exercise, extreme fasting, and using laxatives or diuretics (water pills) to control weight. Purging disorder is a serious and life-threatening disorder, yet it is treatable.
Sep 29, 2023 · Purging disorder is an eating disorder similar to bulimia nervosa. People with purging disorder purge their food, often by vomiting or using laxatives.
Read about bulimia nervosa, an eating disorder and mental health condition where someone is binge eating, then purging the food from their body by making themselves vomit, taking laxatives or diuretics, fasting or exercising excessively.
While it can commonly take the form of vomiting after meals, it can also appear as laxative or diuretic abuse, excessive exercise, compensatory restriction, and more—and all these forms of purging can be just as serious and dangerous.
